COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Headlined by four returning USA Basketball veterans, including the MVP of the 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship, 17 of the nation's most talented 19-and-younger basketball players have been selected to attend the 2009 USA U19 National Team Trials, held June 16-18 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The athletes, born on or after Jan. 1, 1990, will compete for one of 12 roster spots on the 2009 USA U19 World Championship Team. The trials invitations were extended by the USA Basketball Men's Junior National Team Committee, chaired by NCAA representativeJim Boeheim (head coach, Syracuse University). Following the trials, the USA Basketball Men's Junior National Team Committee is expected to announce finalists for the 12-member USA U19 World Championship Team roster. Training camp for the selected finalists will begin June 19, with the 12-member USA roster being announced prior to the teams' departure for New Zealand on June 25.

Kemba Walker (Connecticut / New York, N.Y), who was named MVP of the 2008 FIBA Americas Championship that qualified the U.S. for this year's World Championship, will return in hopes of making his second USA roster. Walker averaged 13.4 ppg., 5.0 apg., and 4.6 rpg. while leading the USA to a silver medal in the 2008 FIBA Americas. In addition to Walker,Al-Farouq Aminu (Wake Forest / Norcross, Ga.), Dominic Cheek (Villanova / Jersey City, N.J.),andDrew Gordon(UCLA / San Jose, Calif.) have all previously represented the USA. Cheek was a teammate of Walker in the 2008 FIBA Americas, while Aminu and Gordon played together on the 2007 Youth Developmental Festival Red Team that finished 5-0 and captured the gold medal and the 2008 USA Junior Select Team that defeated the World Select Team 98-78 in the 2008 Nike Hoop Summit.

Rounding out the 2009 USA Men's U19 World Championship Team Trials roster are newcomers:Kenny Boynton (Florida / Pompano Beach, Fla.),Darryl Bryant (West Virginia / Brooklyn, N.Y.),DeAngelo Casto (Washington State / Spokane, Wash.),Seth Curry (Duke / Charlotte, N.C.),Gordon Hayward (Butler / Brownsburg, Ind.),Darius Miller (Kentucky / Maysville, Ky.),Arnett Moultrie(UTEP / Memphis, Tenn.),Ralph Sampson III (Minnesota / Duluth, Ga.),John Shurna (Northwestern / Glen Ellyn, Ill.),Tyshawn Taylor (Kansas / Jersey City, N.J.),Howard Thompkins (Georgia / Lithonia, Ga.),Klay Thompson (Washington State / Ladera Ranch, Calif.) andTerrico White (Mississippi / Memphis, Tenn.).